When I was a kid, blimps were a rare sight. Goodyear had a handful, which they built themselves, and that was about it.

Over the years, I've noticed more and more blimps in the skies, and the other day I saw the DirectTV (or was it Dish Network?) blimp flying around. So, I wondered how Direct / Dish got a blimp. Surely they didn't make it themselves? So, did they run on down to Blimps R Us and buy one?

Well, actually yes. The company's name is actually the American Blimp Corporation and they are based in Oregon. Not only will they sell you a blimp and teach you to fly it, but for the commitment-phobic you can rent one of their ships for your advertising campaign.

The things you learn on the Internet.